Shin Jang-sik Blasts Democratic Party's Reform Agenda: "At This Rate, We're Certain to Lose the 2028 Election"

Press Conference Marking 100 Days as Party Leader
Announces Run in Anti-Reform Constituencies and Proposes Primaries Within the Reform Camp

Shin Jang-sik, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, publicly criticized the Democratic Party of Korea’s reform agenda, warning, “If things continue this way, we are bound to lose the 2028 general election.” He said he would compete against politicians who take an anti-reform stance, even if they belong to the Democratic Party, and announced that he would run in a Seoul metropolitan area constituency in the 2028 general election.

Shin Jang-sik, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, greets attendees before a press conference marking his 100th day as party leader at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Yonhap News Agency

At a press conference marking his 100th day as party leader at the National Assembly on November 3, Shin said, “The Democratic Party label no longer guarantees a commitment to reform,” adding, “The clearest and most reform-minded candidates will run in constituencies represented by anti-reform politicians.”

He said politicians who had pushed for exemptions to the 52-hour workweek, extensions to the periods for using dispatched and fixed-term workers, and special provisions for foreign medical institutions would be considered anti-reform. He also included politicians who sided with the prosecution during efforts to reform it or openly opposed the impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae.

“These people are not partners for solidarity and unity; they are targets for judgment,” Shin said. “Floor Leader Kim Jun-hyung, Secretary-General Jung Chun-saeng, and I will also run in anti-reform constituencies in the Seoul metropolitan area.”

He also proposed primary elections within the democratic reform camp. He cited the fact that, among the 122 constituencies in the Seoul metropolitan area, the gap between the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party in vote share was less than 10 percentage points in 49. “If we put forward anti-reform candidates in these constituencies, we are bound to lose,” Shin said. “The Rebuilding Korea Party, as a reform party, should field candidates to improve our chances of winning.”

He outlined the party’s three main priorities as completing the reckoning with the insurrection, holding anti-reform forces accountable, and resolving inequality. Regarding the reckoning with the insurrection, he urged the Democratic Party of Korea to pass a motion to impeach Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae at the plenary session on November 5, and to pass legislation to prevent future insurrections, including amendments to the Martial Law Act and the Amnesty Act, before the second anniversary of the December 3 insurrection on December 3. He also called for the abolition of the National Court Administration.

He also proposed a fiscal policy to address inequality. The proposal is to establish a separate “Special Account for Inequality and Polarization” within the government’s Future Response Fund, which is worth more than 200 trillion won, and allocate 100 trillion won to housing stability and the remaining 100 trillion won to care, jobs, and education.

The Rebuilding Korea Party plans to introduce, as a party bill, a special act to address inequality and polarization, and to push for the establishment of a Presidential Committee on Inequality Response. It will also introduce housing-related bills to expand tax credits for young people’s rent, protect tenants, and strengthen the public character of public housing.

Shin said the party plans to unveil an innovation project outlining its medium- and long-term development plans on November 27, the 1,000th day since its founding.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.